Water softening system



March 14, 1944. E. A. KATHE y WATER SOFTENING SYSTEM Filed Aug. 21. 1941 Patented Mar. 14, 1944 UNITED STATES i1 .\Tgs.1\iT oFFlcE WATER SOFTENINGjSYnSTEM Edmund A. Kathe, Springfield,Ohio, assignor to The Rainio Manufacturing Company, :Springfield, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application August 2,1, 19411,'Serial4 No..l $07,153

4 Claims. (Cl. 210-`3l) `This invention relates to a system and apparatus for softening water.

An object of the invention is to provide asystem for softening water wherein a portion of the Water iiowing through the service line isbypassed through a chemical tank for supplying chemical to the water in the service line.

Another object of the invention is to provide a system for softening water wherein a ley-pass circulating system is associated with the main service line and adapted to receive Awater from the service line to direct a ow of water softening iiuid into the service line.

Another object of the invention is vto provide a water softening system in accordance with the foregoing objects wherein vthe water `flow through the by-pass system is proportioned to the water flow through the service line to'thereby regulate the quantity of water-softening agent directed into the service line.

It is another object of the invention to provide a water softening system wherein ,a bypass circulating system is provided for causing a flow of a water softening agent into the service line and an ejector is provided in parallel circuit relationship with the by-pass system.

Another object of the invention is toprovide a Water softening system wherein a portion Aof the Water flowing through the service line is directed into a chemical tank for dissolving a chemical agent therein and supplying the liquid chemical agent to the service line for jdispersing water hardness, and an ejector is provided yfor cooperating with the by-pass circulating system to produce a pressure differential for causing, ow through the by-pass circulating system.

Another object of the invention is to provide a water softening system wherein the combination of a by-pass water circulating system and an ejector produces a positive ow of a liquid water softening agent into the Water to be softened.

Another object of the invention is lto provide a water softening system wherein a saturated solution of a water softening agent is directed into the water to bersoftened by means of a bypass water circulating system associated with the service line and an ejector positioned in the service line and associated with the ley-pass,

water system.

Another object of the invention is to provide a water softening system in accordance with the foregoing object wherein control means are provided'for regulating the quantity of'xwater'circua water softening apparatusY of the liquid chemical. type having a' by-pass..,circulating system for controlling the quantity. of chemical discharged into .the water circulating system.

It is another `object ofthe invention to provide a watersoftening .apparatus in accordance with the foregoing objects wherein the by-pass system and `control Velements Vtherein are produced as aunit adapted tobe inserted within a service line.

Another object of the invention is to provide a water softening apparatus wherein a tankiilled with water softeningAchemialsupports a bypass water Acirculating system for discharging the chemical from Vthetank into the vmain water system and the controls forthe by-pass system.

Further objects land advantages will become apparent from the following description and the drawing.

,In the drawing:

Figure lljis a vertical cross-sectional view of the vwafer softening apparatusof this invention.

-jFigure 2 is an elevational view lof thev water softening apparatus showing Vthe mannerin which the by-pass circulating system, ejector andthecontrols for the` same are carried bythe chemicaltank.

In this invention the water softening apparatus consists cfa ltank I0 in 1which therefis adapted to be placeda water softening agent vII whichv is supportedupon a bed of gravel, iine stone` or grit I2. f The waternsoftening' agent I I is of a type which can be poured into the tank I in either a powdered or granular form and which is `dissorlvedby Water passing through the tank Ill toiorm a Isatufratedchemical solution stored within theyupper portion I3 ofthe .tank I0. The saturated chemical solution` is f directed i into -the bodyY of waterto .beg softened for dispersing A the hardness in the water. .A suitable chemical Iagent such as tetrasodiumpyrophosphate is usedand is wellv adapted to .dispersethe hardness inwater.

l The chemicaltank Illisprovided withan opening Yin theztopzwallgtthereof in whichthere is. securedffiaf .boss I4 A, adapted to. receive a threaded nipple I5. A T-tting I5 is threaded upon the nipple I5 and has a plug I1 secured in one end thereof. The vertical leg of the T-tting I6 receives a plug I8 which is adapted to be threaded therein and extends a substantial distance from the T-tting I6 for supporting a T-tting I6 which is threaded upon the opposite end of the plug I8.

One side of the Tefitting I9 is connected to a house service line 20 while the opposite end thereof receives a nipple 2I upon which there is threaded a T-tting 22. ceives a nipple 23 upon which there is secured a T-fitting 24 which has one opening thereof connected to a water supply line 25. The T-ttings 2I and 23 provide a through connection for the iiow of Water from the supply line 25 to the service line 20.

In order to soften the water passing from the supply line 25 to the service line 2U the saturated chemical solution in the tank I0 is directed through the T-ltting 22 into the water owing from the supply line 25 to the service line 23. The T-tting I6, carried upon the tank Ill, is provided with a needle valve 26 having an opening 21 in communication with the interior of the fitting I6 and thus with the tank I9. A discharge passage 28 is provided in the valve 26 and is in communication with the inlet opening 21. A needle valve 29 is provided between the inlet passage 21 and the discharge passage 28 for closing the passage under conditions which will be hereinafter disclosed. A hand wheel 3l) controls the movement of the needle valve 29. The discharge passage 28 of the valve 26 is connected by means of aconduit 3I to a fitting 32 which is in threaded engagement with the T-tting 22. The tting 32 has a passage 33 therein to permit flow communication between the conduit 3l and the interior of the T-tting 22.

In order to supply water to the chemical tank I0 for dissolving the chemical I I the T-tting 24 supports a tube 34 which is lled with a filter material 35, such as steel wool or the like. A valve 35 is supported upon the projecting end of the tube 34 and is provided with a needle valve 31 operated by means of the hand wheel 38 for regulating the inlet passage 39 therein. lIhe Valve 36 is provided with a connecting fitting 40 o through which water is discharged from the valve. The fitting 40 is connected to a conduit 4I which is extended into the tank Ill and adjacent the bottom-thereof. The conduit 4I enters the tank I0 through a suitable sealing connection 42. K e A The lower end of the conduit 4I extending into the tank I0 is positioned within a well 43 secured to the bottom wall of the tank I9. The well 43 is lled with a lter material 44, such as steel wool or the like. The endof the pipe 4I positioned within the well 43 is provided with holes 45 through which the water discharges into the well 43 and thus enters the interior of the tank I0.

To provide a flow of water through the flow circuit consisting of the tube 34, the conduit 4I, the tank I0 and the conduit 3I a pressure differential is established between the-inlet of the tube 34 and the outlet of theV conduit 3I by means of a iixed orifice or ejector 50 secured within the nipple 23. The orice 50 has a passage 5I which is of less diameter than the diameter of the flow passage connecting the supply line 25 with the service line 20 so Vthat the pressure between the The T-fitting 22 ref f I9, 22 and 24 and their interconnecting nipples A 1 supply line 25 and the orice 50 is greater than the pressure between the orifice 50 and the service line 20. With the orifice 50 positioned in the supply line between the points of connection of the tube 34 and the conduit SI with the supply line a pressure differential is established between these two points so that water from the supply line 25 will ow through the tube 34, the conduit 4I, the tank Il) and the conduit 3I to the service line 29 thus establishing a by-pass circuit for a portion of the water flowing from the supply line 25 to the service line 2U through the orifice 56.

The orice 50, in addition to providing means for establishing a pressure differential between the supply line 25 and the service line 20 also operates as an ejector to produce a low pressure area adjacent the passage 33 and within the interior of the T-tting 22. The function of the orice 50 as an ejector provides an apparatus for drawing liquid from the tank II) through the conduit 3I for admission into the service line 20 by means of a suction. The ejector or orifice 50 provides a means for establishing a positive low pressure area within the T-tting 22 for withdrawing the liquid from the tank Ill, but the reduced pressure is not depended upon as the sole means for controlling the quantity of chemical withdrawn from the tank ID.

The needle valve 31 of the valve 36 is positioned with respect to the inlet orifice 39 in the valve 35 to control the quantity of water which is by-passed through the circuit consisting of the tube 34, the conduit 4I, the tank I0 and the conduit 3|. The inlet orifice 39 is opened sufficiently to control the proper iiow of chemical from the tank I9 in accordance with the hardness of the water which is owing through the service line 20.

The ejector` or orice 5i) cannot withdraw more fluid from the tank I0 than is supplied thereto by the control valve 36 since the successful withdrawal of iluid from the tank ID by the ejector 56 depends upon the complete filling of the tank I0. If the liquid level of the tank I0 should fall sufficiently low that liquid is not present in the 'conduit 3| or the passage 33 the ejector or orifice 50 could not withdraw liquid from the tank I0 since it would be working against a vacuum. Therefore, the control valve 36 gauges or regulates the quantity of water by-passed through the tank Ill and thus the quantity of water softening agent which is discharged from the tank I0 and drawn into the service line 20 by means of the ejector or orice 50.

In order to start the water softener in operation after it has been suitably connected to the supply line 25 and the service line 20 a quantity of water softening agent must be supplied to the tank I6. To perform this operation the valves 26 and 36 are closed. The plug I1 is then removed from the T-tting I6 and the valve 41, Secured to the side wall of the tank lil, is opened to permit a quantity of the fluid within the tank IIJ to drain therefrom. After the liquid in the tank IIJ has stopped draining through the valve 41 it is then closed and a chemical water softening agent can be poured into the tank I0 through the T-tting IS. The water softening agent being in the form of dry powder or granules will settle upon the gravel or grit bed I2 to form a bed of chemical I I. rIhe plug I1 is then tightened in position in the fitting I6 and the valves 26 and 36 opened. The valve 26 is opened completely to provide a free passage between the inlet 21 and the outlet 28 thereof, while the valve 36 is opened sufficiently to permit the proper quantity of water toby-pas's'through the tank 10. The'set ting of the needle 31 of the vvalve 36 is determined by the position of the hand wheel 38 which can be suitably calibrated for various degrees of opening of the valve A36 or suitable instructions can be forwarded with the water-softening equipment to open the valve 36 a predetermined amount Aas determined vby the hardness of the water which is to be softened by the apparatus.

As long as there is no flow of water from the supply line 25 to the service line 2B there is no circulation through the by-pass system. However, after the plug l1 has been inserted in the fitting I6 sufficient Water will flow into the tank I through the by-pass circuit to fill the same. The solution in the upper portion I3 of the tank I0 will be a saturated chemical solution since the water therein will always be in contact with the chemical in the bed Il. The quantity of chemical absorbed or dissolved into the water circulated through the by-pass system will be just suiiicient to saturate the fresh water which is admitted into the tank I0 and therefore the chemical in the bed il will be dissolved at a rate proportionate to the quantity of fiow of water through the by-pass circuit. The by-pass water softening system herein described provides a very accurate control over the quantity of a liquid chemical agent which is added to water circulating through a service line for dispersing the hardness thereof since the ejector 5 provides a positive suction for withdrawing the saturated solution of the water softening agent from the tank iii while the valve 35 provides a deflnite control over the quantity of staturated solution which is permitted to be withdrawn from the tank IG.

The apparatus of this invention is constructed and arranged as a single unit wherein the various elements comprising the by-pass system and the controls for the same are supported upon the chemical tank so that it is only necessary to make two connections to the water softener when connecting the same into a service line. Suitable legs 48 are adjustably positioned within the bosses 49 secured to the tank I0, the bolts 52 providing means for securing the legs 48 within the bosses 49.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

i. A water softening system comprising a main water iiow conduit for conducting the full iiow of water from a supply line to a service line, a by-pass conduit for by-passing a part of the main water flow through a tank containing a water softening agent including an inlet and an outlet conduit connected t0 said main flow conduit and tank means disposed between the inlet and outlet conduits for said by-pass conduit for receiving a water soluble softening agent that settles to the bottom of said tank means, said inlet conduit extending to the bottom of said tank and said outlet conduit connecting with the top of said tank, an ejector in said main fiow conduit through which the full fiow of the main conduit passes for causing a pressure differential to 'be produced within the main flow conduit between opposite ends of said by-pass conduit for causing flow of water under pressure through said inlet conduit of said by-pass circuit for circulating water upwardly through the water softening agent in the bottom of said tank t0 maintain a saturated solution of the softening agent in the top of said tank and for establishing a positive -low pressure area in rsaid imain'flow conduit at the discharge side of said outlet conduit of said by-pass conduit for withdrawing a saturated solution of Water `softening agent from the top of said tank, and means havinga variable orice in said by-pass conduit for regulating the quantity of water circulating through saidinletlconduit of said by-pass conduit to control the quantity of solution removed `from saidtank by said ejector.

2. A self-contained water softening unit comprising a container adapted to set upon a support member and forming the support member for the unit and adapted to contain a water softening agent, a fitting secured to said container through which the water softening agent can be poured, means extending from said tting supporting a main water flow conduit means to which a water supply line and a service line are adapted to be connected, a second conduit means having one end thereof connected to said first mentioned conduit means and the opposite end thereof extending within said tank adjacent the bottom thereof, a third conduit means having one end thereof connected to said first conduit means and the opposite end to said fitting whereby said second and third conduit means form a by-pass water flow circuit parallel with respect to said first mentioned conduit means and of which said container forms a part, ejector means carried within said first mentioned conduit means and positioned between the connections of said second and third conduit means to said first conduit means for producing a pressure differential between opposite ends of said first mentioned conduit means to cause water flow through said by-pass circuit, and means in said second mentioned conduit means to regulate the quantity of water flow therethrough.

3. A water softening apparatus comprising a container, a water soluble softening agent within said container that is heavier than water to settle in the bottom of said container, a well in the bottom of said container, a main water iiow conduit adapted to be connected to a hard water supply line and a service line, means supporting said main conduit upon said container to thereby provide support for other conduits connected thereto, a second conduit connected to said main conduit and extending into said well for supplying water under pressure therein beneath the water softening agent in said container for filtering upwardly therethrough and producing a water softening solution in the top portion of said container, a third conduit connected between the top of said container and said main conduit, an ejector in said main conduit for withdrawing water softening solution from said third conduit for distribution in the water flowing through said main conduit, and valve means in said second conduit regulating the flow of water under pressure into said container and th-us regulating the quantity of solution in said third conduit for distribution into said main conduit by said ejector.

4. A water softening apparatus comprising a tank, a well in the bottom wall of said tank, a grit bed in the bottom of said tank, a water soluble softening agent that is heavier than Water disposed upon said grit bed, a fitting on said tank through which water softening agent is supplied to said tank, a main water fiow conduit adapted to be connected to a hard water supply line and a service line, means extruding from said fitting supporting said main conduit and thereby providing means for supporting other cond-uits connected thereto, a second conduit connected to said main conduit and extending into said Well having valve means therein [for regulating the flow of Water under pressure into said tank for filtering upwardly through said grit .bed and said Water softening agent to produce a Water softening solution in the top of said tank, an ejector in said main conduit, a third conduit connecting between the top of said tank and said main conduit and having the discharge end thereof adjacent said ejector, said ejector withdrawing water softening solution from the top of said tank through said third conduit as permitted by the flow of Water under pressure to said tank under control of said Valve.

EDMUND A. KATHE. 

